Pennsylvania-Ontario-New York League (1939-1956)

Background

This Class D circuit, often abbreviated as the PONY League, was the forerunner of the modern-day New York-Penn League. The PONY League was one of a relatively small number of Minor League Baseball organizations that did not suspend operations during the peak years of the American effort in WWII from 1942 to 1945.

Future Hall of Famers Warren Spahn (Bradford ’40) and Nellie Fox (Jamestown ’44) spent time in the PONY League before ascending to the Majors.

PONY League Franchise List

[etable]

Franchise, Years Active, Governor’s Cup Champions

Batavia Clippers, 1939-1953, 1945-1946

Bradford Bees, 1939-1942, 1941

Bradford Blue Wings, 1944-1949, 1949

Bradford Phillies, 1950-1955, None

Bradford Yankees, 1956, None

Corning Athletics, 1951-1952, None

Corning Independents, 1953, None

Corning Red Sox, 1954-1956, 1954

Erie Sailors, 1944-1945, None

Erie Sailors, 1954-1956, None

Hamilton Cardinals, 1946-1955, 1955

Hamilton Red Wings, 1939-1942, None

Hamilton Red Wings, 1956, None

Hornell Maples, 1942-1947, None

Hornell Maple Leafs, 1948-1949, None

Hornell Dodgers, 1950-1956, 1951

Jamestown Falcons, 1940-1956, 1942-1944-1947-1952-1953

Jamestown Jaguars, 1939, None

Lockport Cubs, 1943-1944, None

Lockport Reds, 1947-1950, 1948

Lockport White Socks, 1945, None

Lockport White Sox, 1942 None

London Pirates, 1940-1941, None

Niagara Falls Rainbows, 1939-1940, None

Olean Giants, 1954, None

Olean Oilers, 1939-1951, 1939-1940-1950

Olean Oilers, 1955-1956, None

Olean Yankees, 1952-1953, None

Wellsville Braves, 1953-1956, 1956

Wellsville Nitros, 1947-1949, None

Wellsville Rockets, 1951-1952, None

Wellsville Senators, 1950, None

Wellsville Yankees, 1942-1946, 1943

[/etable]

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